Sr. Engineer, Product Decoration & Digital Printing

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Position Overview: 

As the Senior Engineer, Product Decoration & Digital Printing,  you are a key member of the Product Applications Innovation team, reporting to the Manager, Global Beverage R&D Engineering.  You will contribute to the success of Ball by serving as a technical leader and innovator in digital printing technologies, bringing external industry best practices into aluminum beverage packaging applications. 

In this role, you will bridge printing science, equipment development and manufacturing scale-up, translating digital print technologies into robust, cost-effective, and high-performing solutions for high-speed beverage can production, informed by broad industrial printing experience.

Your Key Areas of Responsibility Include: 

• Lead the evaluation, development, and industrialization of digital printing platforms (e.g., inkjet, hybrid analog/digital) for packaging applications.
• Apply external industry knowledge (labels, flexible packaging, corrugate) to challenge legacy assumptions and introduce new technical approaches.
• Partner with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), material suppliers, and system integrators to mature digital print technologies to production scale.
• Support installation and commissioning of new technologies and equipment to include training, quality systems, and qualification of products/processes.
• Evaluate print performance, durability, and material interactions (inks, coatings, substrates) to ensure solutions meet functional, quality, and regulatory requirements for beverage packaging.
• Assess graphic order intake workflows and recommend improvements to enable digital print readiness.
• Independently plan and execute project work, including test planning, scheduling, resource coordination, and cost tracking. Communicate project status, results, and recommendations through clear reports and presentations.
• Use financial modeling tools to compare solution scenarios, develop cost impact analyses, and inform investment, technology, and implementation decisions.
• Identify technical risks and capability gaps associated with digital print implementation and develop mitigation plans to support reliable, repeatable production at scale.
• Collaborate with cross functional Ball teams to validate results, align stakeholders, and support broader innovation initiatives.  

Required Skills and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in the printing, packaging, equipment development, or manufacturing industries, with hands‑on exposure to print technologies, materials, and/or production environments.
• Experience working in industrial or manufacturing settings, with exposure to equipment, process controls, and cross‑functional collaboration with operations and technical teams.
• Strong ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, think critically, and troubleshoot complex technical problems.
• Proven capability to identify issues, overcome roadblocks, and drive solutions, engaging stakeholders and suppliers to achieve technical and project milestones.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships and influence outcomes across and beyond the organization.
• Proficiency with computer and data analysis tools, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project; demonstrated application of structured problem‑solving and analytical methods (e.g., DFSS, DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen).
• Working knowledge of wet materials application and adhesion principles, including surface and materials chemistry and printing methods such as flexographic, offset, pad, inkjet, and gravure.
• Familiarity with graphic and pre‑press processes, including Raster Image Processing (RIP)  workflows, separations, color control, and proofing.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.